Hormonal Regulation of Prostaglandin E2 Receptors: Localization and Expression in Rat Cervical Tissue

• Published in: Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) Vol. 17; no. 2; pp. 136 - 146
• Main Authors: Hinton, Andrea C., Grigsby, Peta L., Pitzer, Bradley A., Brockman, Diane E., Ittenbach, Richard F., Hinton, Robert B., Myatt, Leslie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.02.2010; Springer International Publishing; Sage Publications
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cervical Ripening - drug effects; Cervical Ripening - physiology; Cervix Uteri - physiology; Dinoprostone - metabolism; Embryology; Epithelium - physiology; Female; Gene Expression - physiology; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Hormone Antagonists - pharmacology; Immunohistochemistry; Medical sciences; Medicine & Public Health; Mifepristone - pharmacology; Muscle, Smooth - physiology; Obstetrics/Perinatology/Midwifery; Pregnancy; Progesterone - pharmacology; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Prostaglandin E - genetics; Receptors, Prostaglandin E - metabolism; Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP1 Subtype; Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP2 Subtype; Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP3 Subtype; Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP4 Subtype; Reproductive Medicine; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Uterine Contraction - physiology; Cervix; mifepristone; progesterone; prostaglandin receptors; Antineoplastic agent; Rat; Gynecology; Rodentia; Prostaglandin E2; Antihormone; Uterine cervix; Obstetrics; Progestagen; Tissue; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Abortifacient; Animal; Antiprogesterone; Hormonal regulation; Mifepristone; Progesterone; Sex steroid hormone; Localization; Hormonal receptor
• ISSN: 1933-7191; 1933-7205
• DOI: 10.1177/1933719109348068

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) may regulate uterine activation and cervical ripening for labor through specific contractile and relaxatory receptors (EP1-4). The aim of this study was to determine the expression of PGE2 receptor isoforms in pregnant rat cervix during RU486-induced labor and progesterone supplementation to delay labor. Localization and expression of cervical PGE2 receptors were evaluated, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for EP1-4 was performed. EP1-4 were found in both cervical epithelium and smooth muscle. RU486 treatment increased EP2 and EP4 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression. Progesterone treatment had no effect on EP2 and EP4 mRNA expression but decreased EP4 protein. Hormonal manipulation resulted in differences in cellular localization of EP1 and EP3 in cervical epithelial cells, suggesting a specific role in that cell. Progesterone differentially regulates the expression of PGE2 receptor isoforms in the cervix. Elucidating the regulation of PGE2 receptors may facilitate improved approaches to the prevention and treatment of preterm labor.